Railway cross-tie.



J. H. MESSNER.

RAILWAY GROSS TIE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1913.

1,094,232.- I PaLtented Apr.21, 1914.

JOHN H. MESSNER, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY moss-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914..

Application filed September 17, 1913. Serial No. 790,304.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. MEssNER, citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Cross-Ties, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention is directed to new and useful improvements in railway cross ties.

As its principal object, this invention aims to provide a cross tie formed of steel or some other similarly durable and eflicient metal, which is constructed of a minimum number of parts of simple design, rendering the tie inexpensive in the cost of manufacture.

A further object is to provide a metallic railway tie formed in the nature of an open ended and open topped casing in which crushed rock, cinders, concrete or any other similar material may be deposited for the obvious purpose of imparting the necessary weight and stability to the tie.

A yet further object resides in the provision of a pair of anchoring lips which are formed on the base portion of the tie and are disposed so that they will bite into the ground, holding the tie against shifting on the road-bed.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claim which is appended hereto and forms a part of this application.

With reference to the drawing, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts, the figure is a perspective view illustrating the tie with its various elements in assembled position, and further disclosing a rail mounted in the proper position.

Taking up the description of the drawing in detail, the numerals 10, 11 and 12 designate respectively, and as entireties, the base plate, and two side walls which, when properly assembled, constitute the preferred form of tie of this invention.

The base plate 10 consists preferably of a substantially rectangular steel plate, the width, thickness, and length of which are so proportioned that the base plate will withstand all strains to which it may be ing rolling stock. The longitudinal edges 13 and 14 of the base plate 10 are turned downwardly to produce anchoring flanges which, when the tie is placed on the roadbed, bite into the ground and operate to hold the tie against shifting, as will be apparent upon reference to the drawing. Adjacent these anchoring flanges 13 and 14, the base plate is provided with two longitudinally extending series of spaced apertures, as indicated atl5 and 16. These apertures are designed to receive bolts or similar fastening devices 17 by which the outwardly and laterally extending flanges 18 and 19 formed on the side walls 11 and 12 are secured in proper position on the base plate. These side walls 11 and 12 of the tie are, as is the base plate, preferably formed of steel plates, and include in their preferred embodiment a vertical wall 20, the outwardly and laterally extending flanges 18 and 19, and inwardly and laterally extending shelves or closure plates 21 and 22. Cross bars 23, 24 and 25 are bolted or otherwise secured to the closure plates 21 and 22 at the terminals and middle point thereof for the obvious purpose of holding the vertical walls in the desired parallel spaced relation. Upon reference to the drawing, it will be observed that these closure plates 21 and 22 are of such width that their inner edges are spaced from each other, permitting access to the interior of the tie from the top thereof. The purpose of such construction will be readily under stood when it is recalled that the tie is formed in the nature of a hollow casing so that some suitable form of ballast may be deposited in the tie to impart to it the necessary weight and stability.

Relative to the filling of the tie with ballast, it may be well to state that it has been found desirable in Practice to place a quantity of crushed stone in the tie, and to subsequently pour a liquid cement on the stone to combine the separate elements as a unit.

As a means for providing for the reception of the rail bases, the tie is equipped with a pair of tie plates, indicated at 26 and 27. These members 26 and 27 are substantially rectangular in shape, and are equipped on their upper faces with integrally formed.

subjected by reason of the pounding of passcentering ribs which extend longitudinally of the plate and in parallel spaced relation to each other, being arranged, when the plates are applied to the tie, to extend transversely of the tie. Bolts 28 are employed in holding the tie plates or closure members on the tie. The rails, when in position, are secured by means of retaining bolts 29, which need not be described in detail, inasmuch as they form the subject-matter of a separate application, Serial No. 790,143, filed Septemher 16th, 1913.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that this invention provides a hollow metallic tie which consists of a minimum number of parts of simple design. It will be further noted that the tie of this invention may be readily taken apart and packed for shipment or storage, so that it will occupy a minimum space. In this connection, it will be observed that if a shipment of a large number of ties is made, the side walls 11 and 12 and the base plates 10 may be packed separately, the base plates being nested one above the other, and the side walls being similarly packed, so that the elements will occupy a relatively small area.

It may be Well to explain at this point that when the concrete or other ballast is poured into the tie during the manufacture of the article, it will, of course, be impossible to disassemble the side walls and base plate in the manner above set forth. It has been found most expedient, however, in ordinary practice, to pour in the ballast after the ties have been shipped to the scene of operation for gravel and other materials may usually be found along a road bed, and by taking advantage of this fact, a large expenditure in freight costs is avoided.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the drawing, and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

Arailway tie including a base plate, downwardly extending anchoring flanges formed on the longitudinal edges of the base plate, side walls carried by the base plate, outwardly extending flanges formed on the side walls, means securing the flanges to the base plate adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof, closure plates formed on the upper edges of the walls and extending inwardly toward the center of the tie, the inner edges of the closure plates being spaced from each other, and means for holding the closure plates in spaced relation.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. M. S'rrvnn, W. M. MGMILLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01' Patents,

. Washington, D. G. 

